Knox man charged in attempted kidnapping of his granddaughter

Barbourville, Ky. (WKYT/WYMT) - A southern Kentucky grandfather is speaking out, about the charges he faces from jail that accuse him of trying to kidnap his granddaughter.

Police say Ralph Johnson took the girl after a disagreement with his son.

Johnson tells us from jail that his granddaughter was never in any danger. He says he and his son were arguing over a truck at Jackson Manor Apartments and it escalated into his son taking the car keys, and Johnson picking up his granddaughter.

"I told him...I want my truck keys. So I could go home. I ask him 3 or 4 times. He got mad. He throwed them. I picked my grand kid up, said 'I'm going to the police station with her,'" said Johnson from inside the Knox County jail.

"During that disagreement the father was told to leave, and in the process of leaving made statements that he was going to take his grand child with him," said Barbourville Police Det. Steve Owens.

Police say bystanders were able to help "rescue" the little girl. Johnson was taken to jail. His son was also taken to jail on unrelated bench warrant charges, and two year old was given over to her mother.

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